____________________ is the duty to do or promote good. - ANSWER -
Beneficence
____________________ refer to private, personal, or group standards of right and
wrong. - ANSWER -Morals
.____________________ refers to the application of ethical principles to healthcare.
- ANSWER -Bioethics
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is
alert and oriented and, after giving it much thought, has decided that he wants to be
removed from the ventilator. The nurse believes the patient intends suicide but
supports his final decision. When the ventilator is removed, the nurse remains with
the patient to support him. The nurses action demonstrates respect for what moral
principle?
1) Nonmaleficence
2) Autonomy
3) Beneficence
4) Fidelity - ANSWER -2) Autonomy
Autonomy refers to a persons right to choose and his ability to act on that choice. In
this case, the nurse respects the patients right to choose to die. Nonmaleficence is
the twofold principle of doing no harm and preventing harm. Beneficence is the duty
to do or promote good. Fidelity is the obligation to keep promises.
A 45-year-old patient is ventilator dependent after a high cervical neck injury. He is
conscious and competent and has decided that he wants to be removed from the
ventilator. His family and the multidisciplinary team agree. The nurse believes the
patient intends suicide and would prefer he choose differently but says nothing. The
nurse remains at the bedside holding the patients hand. In this instance the nurse is
displaying which of the following?
1) Value set
2) Value system
3) Value neutrality
4) Value awareness - ANSWER -3) Value neutrality
Value neutrality occurs when we put aside our own values regarding an issue in
order to provide nonjudgmental care to clients. A value set is your list of values. A
value system is your value set with the values ranked on a continuum from most
important to least important.
A 60-year-old patient with a treatable form of breast cancer has decided not to
pursue radiation or chemotherapy. The nurse believes that the patient should be
treated. She coerces her into receiving treatment by continuing to remind the patient
about her responsibilities for raising her children. What type of behavior has the
nurse displayed?
1) Nonmaleficence
2) Autonomy
, 3) Paternalism
4) Beneficence - ANSWER -3) Paternalism
Paternalistic behavior occurs when the nurse thinks she knows what is best for a
competent patient and coerces the patient to act as she wishes rather than to act as
the patient originally desired. Autonomy refers to a persons right to choose and his
ability to act on that choice. Nonmaleficence is the twofold principle of doing no harm
and preventing harm. Beneficence is the duty to do or promote good.
A 77-year-old woman with an inoperable brain tumor has been hospitalized for the
past 5 days. Her daughter comes to visit her. The patient has asked that her
daughter not be told her diagnosis. After visiting with her mother, the daughter asks
to speak to the nurse. She says, My mother claims she has pneumonia, but I know
she is not telling me the truth. The daughter asks the nurse to tell her what is truly
wrong with her mother. The nurse should tell her that:
1) Her mother has an inoperable brain tumor, but does not wish anyone to know.
2) She needs to speak to the physician in charge of her mothers care.
3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with anyone, not even
family.
4) Her mother is very sick with a serious case of pneumonia that could lead to death.
- ANSWER -3) Her mother has requested that her case not be discussed with
anyone, not even family.
The nurses first allegiance is to the patient and her desire for confidentiality. Telling
the daughter to speak to the physician would place the physician in the same
position as the nurse. Telling her that her mother has pneumonia would be a lie. The
nurse, of course, should inform the physician of the patients wishes so that he will be
prepared if the daughter questions him about her mothers health condition.
A belief about the worth of something that serves as a principle or a standard that
influences decision making is called which of the following?
1) Morals
2) Attitudes
3) Beliefs
4) Values - ANSWER -4) Values
A value is a belief you have about the worth of something that serves as a principle
or a standard that influences decision making. Morals are private, personal, or group
standards of right and wrong. Attitudes are mental dispositions or feelings toward a
person, object, or idea. A belief is something that one accepts as true.
A client is asking about developing a living will. What act protects this right?
Americans With Disabilities Act
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
Patient Self-Determination Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - ANSWER -Patient Self-
Determination Act